*31 August 2025* Today we decamped after three nights at Fjordbotn and drove across the northern part of Senja. It is a national scenic route, and the reason is clear - this is one of the most stunning drives in Norway, possibly even in the world. Over mountains, through tunnels, around fjords, never without a backdrop of sheer peaks rising like some sea god out of the ocean. ![[19-GNT - 3.jpeg]] From the west side of Mefjord we got superlative views of Hesten, the mountain we climbed yesterday, and Segla. But most breathtaking of all is the wall of sheer mountains rising out of the sea for perhaps 12-15 kms. ![[19-GNT - 2.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 4.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 5.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 6.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 8.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 7.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 9.jpeg]] Driving on one quickly runs out of superlatives as each turn brings new wonders. ![[19-GNT - 10.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 11.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 12.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 13.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 14.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 15.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 16.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 17.jpeg]] ![[19-GNT - 18.jpeg]] Late afternoon we visited Torsken with its red, wooden church built in 1784 by an unknown architect. The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1589, but the church was likely founded around the year 1400. ![[19-GNT - 19.jpeg]] We had decided to camp for the night in the queue for the Gryllefjord-Andenes ferry, having heard (and had it confirmed by the harbour master in a phone call) that this was the only way to be sure of getting onto what is a very small ferry for its sailing at 11am tomorrow morning. This map shows the importance of this particular route which saves 6+ hours driving. ![[19-GNT - Map.jpeg]] This is the queue already at 8 in the evening! Let's see what happens in the morning! ![[19-GNT - 21.jpeg]] And there in the far distance (40kms) is the island of Andøya where we go tomorrow. ![[19-GNT - 20.jpeg]] << [[The GNT, Day 18 - Hesten]] | [[The GNT, Day 20 - Gryllefjord to Stave]] >>